Spaniards Jose Maria Olazabal and Miguel Angel Jimenez broke down in tears after learning Seve Ballesteros is close to death.
An emotional Jose Maria Olazabal speaks briefly after his Spanish Open second round.
Ballesteros’ family issued a statement yesterday (FRI) indicating there had been a ‘severe deterioration’ in the neurological state of the five-time Majors winner.
Olazabal had last visited Ballesteros at his home in Pedrena on the Saturday (April 16) after last month’s U.S. Masters, and had lunch with him and his family.
The double Augusta National winning Olazabal said he then learnt on Thursday night that there had been a downturn in Ballesteros’ condition.
However this latest set-back to the health of his life-long friend had Olazabal slumped over and crying uncontrollably straight after signing for a 72 on day two of the Spanish Open in Barcelona.
Miguel Angel Jimenez wipes tears from his eyes after learning latest news on Seve Ballesteros.
Olazabal is contesting the Spanish Open for a first time in seven years and this year also marks the 30th anniversary Ballesteros won the first of three Spanish Open titles.
Jimenez, who played alongside Olazabal for the opening two rounds, was observed putting a comforting arm around Olazabal’s shoulder.
Jimenez, his own eyes tear swollen, had also signed for a 72 and emerged agreeing to speak with the waiting media.
However Jimenez soon was overcome with emotion and broke off his interview after just less than 15 seconds and without saying anything.
Olazabal, who first teamed with Ballesteros in the 1987 Ryder Cup, then emerged from the scorer’s hut and while accepting an invitation to speak he too was again quickly overcome with emotion.
“I don’t want to make any statement at all or talk about it, as it’s pretty tough,” said Olazabal.
“I went to see him a couple of weeks ago, and in the week after the Masters.
“But I knew last night that he had got worse.”
Colin Montgomerie was in the group immediately behind Olazabal and Jimenez but had not been aware of this latest deterioration in Seve’s health.
However in seeing Ballesteros speak via a video link-up to Royal Trophy team members last January, Monty now fears the worst for the former six-times European Number One.
“I heard he wasn’t well about a month ago but it’s difficult to talk about Seve when he’s still with us,” said Monty.
“Talk to me if the worse comes to the worse but all we can do now is to wish him every success. But it’s just difficult especially when he’s undergone so many operations.
“Seve spoke to us via a video link-up at the Royal Trophy earlier this year. That was the last time I saw him ‘live’, if you like but the look in his eyes.
“So it’s just a shame and you could tell then he wasn’t himself.”
Monty was also present at Augusta this year and though he was in attendance at the ‘Former Champions Dinner’, he was well aware defending champion Phil Mickelson presented a Spanish theme meal in honour of Ballesteros.
“I heard the Champions Dinner was very emotional with both Phil and Jose Maria speaking,” said Monty.
“Also the way Jose Maria spoke at the Ryder Cup, he probably realised that it would be the last Ryder Cup Seve would be around for.
“He was very emotional that we had won and it was very emotional the way we won and Seve would have been absolutely delighted.
“I tried to get Jose Maria to attend the closing ceremony and he wouldn’t come.
“I organised to get him a jacket and a shirt and I stood up in the locker room …. and I said that if Jose Maria’s not coming, then we’re not going.
“So we all just sat down. I just hope now that you don’t have to write tributes.”
Ballesteros, 54, had surgery on the tumour in late 2008 followed by a course of chemotherapy and had been recuperating at his home in northern Spain.
“The family will provide information on his state of health when more news becomes available,” said a statement on his website (www.seveballesteros.com).
His family also expressed their thanks for the support they had received and added that any updates would be published on the website.
Ballesteros had four operations to remove the tumour following his collapse at Madrid airport in Oct. 2008.
He appeared in public for the first time following the surgery in May 2009 when he went to watch local soccer team Racing Santander and was given a standing ovation.
Regarded by many as golf’s greatest shot-maker, Ballesteros won 87 titles worldwide, 50 of them on the European Tour.
A winner of three British Opens and two Masters titles, he also helped revive Europe’s fortunes in the biennial Ryder Cup team competition.
